Feminist Lens Of The Elizabethan Era

During the Elizabethan era, woman’s roles were still very limited, and the society was patriarchal. Men were supposed to be the breadwinners, while woman were expected to be housewives. It was estimated that a woman gave birth every two years, but children died from sickness, so it prevented families from ever becoming large. Childbearing was considered a big honor to woman, as children were seen as blessings from God. However, many woman were highly educated.

Ophelia, a beautiful, delicate, well-behaved young woman, who is in love with the prince of Denmark, must constantly obey men throughout the play. Ultimately, she must decide between Hamlet and her father because she has no power. In her line, "I shall obey my lord" (1-3-145), Shakespeare dramatizes that young women with no power,

Many works of literature reflected the understanding of gender roles during the Elizabethan era and how they were differentiated through how

Nowadays, women can receive formal education and go to exclusive schools, marrying is not the only career option for them as they can now work professional jobs and do much of what they weren’t allowed to do in the past. One can argue how much time has changed the world, both for the better and worse. The Elizabethan Period and the present vary in a great deal of aspects like the government, the social classes or hierarchy and the role of women. Though the changes are evident, one cannot deny that there are still similarities and aspects that remains unchanged from the past to this

Ophelia’s character went through quite a large transformation. In the play her father tells her that she is to stay away from Hamlet and she readily agrees. In the movie Ophelia doesn’t disagree with her father but she also doesn’t agree just to please him. This shows that Ophelia isn’t easily persuaded, even by her own father. Despite her father’s warning about Hamlet, Ophelia met with him in secret at her apartment until her father found out.

Still, in my opinion, women are being discriminated by some people of what she can or cannot do. This is the same during the Elizabethan period where women can do things unless they are allowed by their spouse or male relatives. In my own opinion, the greatest impact that the Elizabethan period had with the modern England today is the language and literature. The language during the Elizabethan period was different.

Hamlet doesn’t look at Ophelia as a modest wife, but someone that would use her husband and turn him into a monster. (3.1.138-141) Lastly, when Hamlet kills Polonius and Ophelia finds out about the death of her father and the way he was buried, she becomes devastated and depressed. Even though Ophelia isn't aware that Hamlet is the reason behind her father’s death, she is still heartbroken that her father didn’t get a proper funeral which is why she went mad. “We must be patient.

The Elizabethan Era was a time where men were in charge and women and children were expected to obey. Nowadays, men and women have equal roles in society and one gender is not better or smarter than the other. During the Elizabethan Era, men, women, and children all had specific and defining roles. Men had a dominant role in society during the Elizabethan Era. Men could do many things that women were not allowed to do.

This provokes him to say that god gives women one face, but they use make up to paint on another one. This quote suggest that Hamlet sees woman as naive and gullible creatures, as he sees Ophelia as nothing but an object that is owned by her father, as she is helping him with all of his dirty work. Hamlet believes that woman cannot be trusted as they have are deceiving. He also sees Ophelia as a grown women who is unable to make her own decisions. Hamlet is utterly disgusted by how feeble Ophelia is as she was following her father's scheme.

Ophelia is grieving the loss of her father after Hamlet kills him. Ophelia doesn't know that Hamlet killed her father. But Ophelia has gone mad from learning about her father's death. Also, after Hamlet telling Ophelia that she needs to go to a nunnery, Ophelia is a little bit discouraged. She is discouraged because Hamlet had told her before that if Ophelia would sleep with him that they would get married.

When Ophelia has to part with Laertes, who is leaving for France, he says, “Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, and keep within the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire.” (I.iii

Hamlet does not value Ophelia 's feelings he belittles her. In Hamlets defense this is the way he was brought up to treat women, during that time this was a common way to treat a women. Even though in today 's society it is not at all ok to treat women with such disrespect. He also likes for everything to go as planned and this may result in why he can not have a stable relationship with a woman. This also causes him to have many stumbling blocks in his life that causes some emotional pain

English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare, existed during the late 1500’s and into the early 1600’s, a period often referred to as the Elizabethan Era. The societal norms and ideas differ significantly to that of today’s society, particularly that of gender roles and association to power. During the Elizabethan Era, it was an expectation for men to possess brave and heroic qualities, unafraid to commit acts of violence. On the contrast, women were often subservient to the dominant male figures, stereotyped as weak, dependent and emotional.

Women in Elizabethan England, were not treated with as much respect as they should have been, but they were not treated as if they were not human beings. They were typically seen to be the weaker sex, mentally and physically and were thought to need a male figure constantly watching over them. If a woman was single, she was usually watched after by a father or an older brother, but if the woman was married it would be her husband’s job to take after her. Men were the ones that brought home the money. They were the head of the home and in charge of most decisions that took place.

In the manner of the article “Elizabethan Women Women in Tudor History,” “The Elizabethans had very clear expectations of men and women, and in general, men were expected to be the breadwinners and women to be housewives and mothers.” This displays the unfairness between the genders as the men were expected to make all the money by the term of “breadwinners” and the women were supposed to provide for the family at home all day. Furthermore, this connects to the unjust expectations and laws placed upon women as they could also not pursue certain jobs. Women were prohibited from higher-status careers like medicine, law, and politics. Although they were allowed to work as cooks, painters, maids, and even pursue writing, which all relate to the stay-at-home, housewife lifestyle that creates boundaries around their aspirations.